Ares was tired from thinking; he was tired of waiting as well. Gabrielle had told him to wait till morning was set. He was immortal so there was no need to eat the sticking wrapped rolls in front of him. All he could feel was the rage and sadness fill up inside himself.
Long ago Ares had put Xena to rest; he had buried her in a tomb of ice and locked her away deep in his heart. That process had taken twenty five years, for an immortal that wasn't a long time but Ares had a feeling this time it could be worse. He knew that his heart hurt and that he had to get Xena back.
Gabrielle entered the palace halls dressed in a baggy blue tunic and pants made of silk. Her hair was still cropped short and shone in the sunlight. At her belt rested Xena's Chakram.
"What is the plan" she asked him not wanting to waste any time.
Ares shifted his weight and spread his legs apart, "I came to Egypt with Aphrodite in hopes of setting up an allegiance with the Egyptian gods. It has been a while since there was any real power in Greece so we migrated here." He paused and looked at the painting of Isis on the wall. "I think she can help us, Isis, she controls the underworld here."
Gabrielle frowned, "Xena died in Japan. She was sent into some sort of place I can't even fathom. I feel her by my side everyday but not like a ghost. It's surreal." She sat down on the cushion opposite him. "I think Xena is at peace."
Something about the word peace made Ares very upset. He wanted Xena to be happy and powerful on earth, he had wanted her to rule by his side as a goddess. "You were supposed to be immortal" he whispered.
Gabrielle shifted her weight and then stood to great a long lost friend. Standing in the corner stood the goddess of love Aphrodite. She was dressed in a long dark gown and her hair was pulled into a bun.
Aphrodite hugged Gabrielle fiercely, "I'm sorry." Gabrielle nodded and then pulled from the embrace. She knew that neither of them was going to let Xena stay dead. The question was could she let Xena stay dead?
Gabrielle held Xena's Chakram in her hand and looked into it. Instead of seeing her own reflection it was Xena's waiting there. Gabrielle knew what she had to do.
"Is this the place?" Aphrodite's voice was tight as she stood at the edge of the lake. Ares nodded.
"I think this is where the legend began. Here at the foot of the Nile" Gabrielle said. She looked at the map to double check the prediction.
Ares looked around noticing the few peasants shopping. "So how do we contact Isis again?"
Gabrielle spoke, "According to the town legend if someone dies at night in the village Isis will show herself for a small time and teach them of the underworld before they descend there." She nodded and looked to the temple in the background.
Aphrodite looked skeptical, "What if nobody dies while we're here." She looked around and noticed some villagers who seemed sick.
"No need to worry. The priestesses at the temple said there have been bandits pillaging this town. When I got there they had many dead people to tend to" Gabrielle said looking frustrated.
Ares looked irritated, "What's the plan?"
Gabrielle smiled slightly, "We stop the bandits and save the town." She smiled brightly this time, "Then we speak to Isis."
Ares wanted to fight her on this; there was no time to waste. "We need to talk with Isis now."
"Ares, if you want you can wait here. I can't forget the reason I was in Egypt" Gabrielle said as she walked away.
Aphrodite pushed at her brother's back, "I say we help her. Best way to find Isis is with her." Ares gave her a nasty look and then disappeared. "No way" she exclaimed.
Gabrielle walked into the town seeing sick people coughing and young kids running about. The image ripped at her heart, she had to do something. She decided she would talk to the town people first and then set up a defense against the bandits.
Ares watched her walk down the path but didn't call out to her or try to stop her. He knew that Gabrielle was set on saving these people. Ares intended to stay out of it and wait. Soon he would have what he wanted.